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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus VR-340 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus VR-340, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and VR-340 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and VR-340 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 20 months prior to the VR-340 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL1 scores versus the VR-340 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus VR-340

 E-PL1 VR-340 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Olympus E-PL1

 VR-340 E-PL1 
ReleasedJanuary 2012May 2010Newer by 20 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus VR-340

 E-PL1 VR-340 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Olympus VR-340 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus VR-340 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the VR-340.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and VR-340 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and VR-340.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus VR-340 will provide you with more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Olympus VR-340
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VR-340 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
63
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Olympus VR-340 Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Olympus VR-340 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (290 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average in class (125g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery (290 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
43
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Olympus VR-340
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
33
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than average in class (125g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VR-340 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus VR-340
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus VR-340
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus VR-340
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-05-17 2012-01-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.7
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 125 gr (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $288 $130